Two-spirit

Two-spirit is a term used by Native Americans to describe people who had a third-gender or gender-variant ceremonial role in their cultures. The masculine and feminine can sometimes be equally represented in a person, leading to them being referred to as "two-spirit". Two-spirit is the modern umbrella term to describe a Native American who does not fit into the male-female heterosexual spectrum, and it was originally known as "berdache" to the Europeans. The Spanish saw two-spirits as sodomites, as their identity was against their Christian beliefs. The term two-spirit is similar to the modern concepts of gender queer, pangendered, transgendered, and gender fluid, and Native American gender roles determine both symbolic interaction and the structure and functions of society. Two-spirits were seen as possessing the wholeness of both women and man, making them superhuman in ability and thinking, and they were said to be mediators between gender roles. Native American culture never sought to punish Two-spirits, as they instead held important places in society, such as We'wha, considered to be the most intelligent of the Zuni (being sent to Washington DC to represent her tribe's interests), and the warrior Osh-Tisch. The US government attempted to assimilate Two-spirits, as did Christian missionaries. The religious role of Two-spirits was suppressed and forgotten, but 135 Native American tribes still have multiple genders, and Two-spirits continue to exist, especially since traditional revivals.